The King Is Dead. Long Live The King!

12:20pm Friday 7th December 2007

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It seems incredible that Subaru's Impreza WRX saloon appeared on the European motoring scene back in 1993.

And, considering the car's spectacular success and partisan following, it was seen by many as a brave move when this year the company launched a radically different-looking hatchback model.

Equipped with the popular Legacy engine, the original Impreza was named from the Italian "impresa" meaning achievement or feat.

It was introduced into an already crowded segment which included Toyota's Corolla, the Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer and Mazda 323.

However, it was the only car offering a 4WD version and this, indeed, became standard four years later - it's still a unique feature.

In the standard car, Subaru kept its proven aluminium flat four "boxer" engine which provides smoother power delivery to the 4WD system, is more balanced and sits lower in the bodyshell.

The turbocharged WRX version was soon upgraded to give the STi (for Subaru Tecnica International) with more power and performance-tuned suspensions and transmissions.

They were hugely successful in rallying across the world and needless to say, immensely popular with street racers.

From 1995, the STi won three consecutive World Rally Chamionships plus the world drivers' title for the late Colin McRae in 1995 and Richard Burns in 2001 and Petter Solberg in 2003.

The second generation was introduced in 2001. It was larger, safer, more refined and slower.

A subdued public and press response generated a swift and popular facelift by 2003 and the radically different, third generation, Impreza appeared this year at the New York Motor Show.

The jury is still out on the new model.

But the eagerly-awaited new STi arrives next year so it seemed a good excuse to have a last drive in the current model before bidding farewell to the striking look and awesome road presence of the current incumbent.

My first thought was that it was smaller than I remembered. That's probably because the last time I drove one, the eye-catching blue colour, yawning air intake and rear wing the size of Texas left such a big impression. Subtle it ain't.

But once in there's no sense of a squeeze, even for one of my unfashionably chubby deportment and there has been a general upgrading of materials and ergonomics which actually makes the cabin surprisingly comfortable and quite a civilised place to be.

The seats are snug, comfortable and very supportive - and they need to be; the STi is very quick and very grippy and, driven as it likes to be, will happily take itself and your body rapidly round a tight bend while your vital organs try to carry on in a straight line.

It isn't really designed as a primary family car and I'd be disinclined to use it for long family trips, but there are three seats in the back - with limited legroom - and we did manage to accommodate a family of five.

The driving position, as you would expect, is near perfect, with well-positioned switchgear and excellent, easy to read dials. With nearly 280bhp going through permanent all-wheel-drive there are few saloons which will match it for thrills. In fact there's only one obvious contender and that's louder, less comfortable and more expensive.

The STi's stability through the bends is looked after by computers monitoring yaw rates, G-forces, etc, along with a driver-controlled centre differential and a limited slip rear diff.

There's some road noise from the low profile tyres and transmission but it's not intrusive and the steering is very direct and gives great feedback from the road surface, though it will let you know all about ruts in the road. Coupled with the smooth six-speed gearbox, predictable turbo lag and big, potent progressive brakes, the overall performance is electrifying.

The launch to 60mph takes just five seconds, and third-gear overtaking could take you by surprise, as putting your foot down at 60mph will have the ton (and your victim) arriving in very short order indeed.

I've been lucky enough to have driven an STi on a Tarmac rally stage, race track and all manner of roads and it has never failed to be a thrilling experience.

The STi costs £26,597 but it will be worth haggling. A little bird tells me that, 14 years on, the very different-looking third generation STi, is even better. I can't wait...